With Kashmiris continuing to suffer under Indian siege, President Donald Trump Monday asked Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to reduce tensions with Pakistan over the disputed territory, partly controlled by the two South Asian nuclear-armed neighbors.
According to Pakistani officials, Trump also spoke to Prime Minister Khan after his telephonic conversation with Modi, whose August 5 annexation of the disputed territory touched off a massive regional crisis.
“The president conveyed the importance of reducing tensions between India and Pakistan and maintaining peace in the region,” White House spokesman Hogan Gidley said.
“The two leaders further discussed how they will continue to strengthen United States-India economic ties through increased trade, and they look forward to meeting again soon,” Gidley added in a statement.
In Islamabad, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said PM Khan informed the U.S. president that Kashmir continues to be under curfew and drew attention to the suffering of Kashmiris.
Khan has launched scathing attacks against the Modi Government, which pursues Hindutva ideology, calling the BJP government “fascist” and a practitioner of Nazi Germany policies against Muslims and other minorities.